Analytical Development of an Experimental Paradigm for C(3) Organizations
Abstract
The bounded rationality constraint sets an upper limit on the rate with which decisionmakers can process information satisfactorily. This constraint becomes a critical parameter in the design of organizations carrying out command and control functions. Used as a design constraint, it incorporates the notion of avoiding degradation of performance due to excessive workload. An experimental paradigm was developed, a simple computer game for a single decisionmaker, in which subjects were given a limited amount of time to perform a task. Both the amount of time and the task were varied. An information theoretic model of the cognitive workload was used to estimate the workload associated with the tasks. The experimentally determined time Threshold at which performance degraded rapidly and the computed cognitive workload led to a value for the bounded rationality constraint for each subject and each task. The distribution of the bounded rationality constraint across subjects for each task was found to be normal. Also, the bounded rationality constraint of each subject as the task changed did not vary significantly. The results of the experimental and analytical investigation may be used in the design of multi-person experiments and in organization design. Keywords: Command control and communications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA200899
Entities
People
- Alexander H. Levis
- Anne-claire Louvet
- Jeff T. Casey
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology